Samuel H. Boardman State Park
Recommended Vendors For Crook Point / Samuel H. Boardman and Location guide.
Full disclosure: I have not worked with all these vendors, these are recommendations based on reviews online and references from others in the industry.
Florists:
Woodland floral
https://www.woodlandfloral.com/services-and-pricing
Freckled fleurs
https://www.freckledfleurs.net
Meghan with
@blackfernbeautyco
Cant say enough good things about meghan, she is so sweet and prompt and even has a package where she will hike with you!
Janice Moon
Makeup and Hair
Event Rentals:
The Party Place
Private Chef:
Rebecca Clark
Amazing food and locally sourced oysters and seafood.
Grazing table / Cheese board
Rentals / Picnic
Officiant
Charles : the Write officiant
A confidential license is one where you do not need a witness, a traditional license means you do need a witness but hair and makeup artists, florists, Airbnb hosts are ALWAYS happy to sign.
Discover crook point - my favorite option because of the expansive property
8 homes and venues to choose from! Absolutely amazing and affordable, approx 300/ night.
Pelican Point $315/night
Zen's round house $415/night
Casita at cliff house $215/night
Pelican Path $260/night stairs down to the beach.
Where to stay:
When wanting to explore Samuel H. Boardman State Park and Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park I would stay away from Cresent City. I recommend staying in Brookings or Gold Beach. Crescent City has a high crime rate, I’ve met several women who didn’t feel comfortable exploring the area alone.
Secret beach and Ariya's beach - 4 hours
https://www.floragibson.com/blog/samuel-h-boardman-state-park-elopement-1
Jedidiah Smith and Secret beach - 4 hours
https://www.floragibson.com/blog/samuel-h-boardman-state-park-elopement
Crook point- Pistol river- Natural Bridges -6 hours
https://www.floragibson.com/blog/oregon-wedding-photographer
Location examples :
Natural Bridges:
VERY STEEP AND DANGEROUS
will need over an hour.
they have recently closed this view point and it is very steep and dangerous but I'm willing to take clients to the viewpoint area.
Secret Beach:
Check tide levels, longer trail is less steep. skip viewpoints by staying right on trail.
“There is a small gravel parking area for it 1/3 mile south of milepost 345 on U.S. 101 in Boardman State Park. From there, walk to the trailhead (a small dirt path) and enjoy an overlook into aptly-named Thunder Rock Cove. Follow the trail 1/4 mile to the secluded beach.”
NOTES: really unique rock you can climb on top of with views of surrounding rocks.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/secret-beach-trail
2 miles will need at least an hour here if not more
Pistol River: Arya’s Beach
Lots of beautiful beach grass and places to move.
Jeddidiah Smith Redwoods
The park itself on google will show 30 min from Samuel H. But overall it’s an hour away from the other locations once you get to the trails.
Howland hill road. - Star
Stout grove loop - Star
Hiouch trail - star
VERY STEEP AND DANGEROUS
will need over an hour.
Natural bridges:
they have recently closed this view point and it is very steep and dangerous but I'm willing to take clients to the viewpoint area.
Where to eat:
Top Elopement Day Mistakes To Avoid
I’ve been shooting elopements for several years now and I’ve noticed some common questions and mistakes when it comes to elopements. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion and your style may be VERY different from mine! But as a photographer in the wedding industry who shoots in wild places I’ve noticed some common mistakes that brides regret later.
Fake flowers, just don’t photograph well, and they often fall apart in the wind. I hear from a lot of brides who want fake flowers so they can “ keep it forever”. There are a few ways to preserve live flowers, including bringing a small flower press or hiring a person who preserves flowers in acrylic. My personal favorite is pressing your flowers and putting them in a glass frame once home. If the cost of a live bouquet is preventing you from getting one, that’s ok! Not every couple opts for a bouquet, but stay away from anything dried/ fake.
HEELS: Wear flat shoes with grip. This doesnt mean boots with a heel, this means flat shoes WITH GRIP. If you are envisioning steep cliffs and standing on rocks on the cliffs or going for a long walk down to the cool beaches in Oregon you need FLAT SHOES. The secondary problem with getting boots with a heel is having your dress hemmed for those boots. That means when you're not wearing them on the beach you won’t be able to walk or run easily because you cant wear heels on the beach, chances are you are going to want to be barefoot.
Bringing a change of shoes once you're at the location. You will NOT use them. It’s flat shoes with grip straight to barefoot.
Having a “ pretty “ shoe just for getting ready. The whole point of getting ready is to capture some realness, you're going to look back on those photos and they won’t make any sense.
A dress you cant squat or sit in. or one that isn’t hemmed to your flat shoes.
Bringing a bag of things. The bag will be in your photographs since I like to document from mostly the moment you're out of the car.
Paying for a bustle or a dress “ handle” For a long night of dancing it's nice, but for an elopement day I will always suggest a long dirty dress, it’s dramatic and beautiful, I dont personally think a bustle photographs well. I usually suggest throwing the train over your arm vs. any kind of handle in photographs.